Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me

Xander ran from Angel’s apartment to the school as fast as he could, his lungs burning as he gasped for air.

He’d been in a state of quiet panic ever since seeing Spike the night before at the Bronze. He hadn’t even been gone a week but Xander had missed him, had even stayed at the house one night to keep away from his father.

But seeing Spike at the Bronze had been a shock. He had gotten used to Spike’s attitude around him, being the Big Bad as the vampire called it. But last night he had seemed almost a different person. The smirk had been on his face but his eyes had been cold. Steel.

His Spike would laugh with him at some stupid sitcom, or make comments about how silly Buffy looked trying to fight in high heels. His Spike played video games and taught him how to fight and didn’t make him feel like a stupid kid.

The Spike last night had been a killer. He’d always known that, had even found the books and read how he’d killed two other slayers. He’d even listened to a few stories about Drusilla and how she’d get into people’s minds and make them as mad as she was before feeding off them.

But until he’d seen Spike confronting Buffy he hadn’t known.

It had been frightening, and just a little bit sexy, which freaked him out to no end.

Added to that confusion was Angel being an ass. Of course, the rest of the gang didn’t know that Deadboy was being extra idiotic. Angel gave a warning about how nothing would stop Spike from reaching his goal and then did his disappearing act. Giles looked for hours through the different Watcher’s Diaries for information on Spike when Angel had it all along. He could have just said, "William the Bloody", and that would have been more than enough.

Of course, he was just as bad. He didn’t tell Giles either so, along with the confusion and fright, he was doing the guilt thing too. He tried to make up for it by not arguing too much with Giles and went to get Angel when the older man had asked him to.

Plus, he kinda knew this was leading to a big show down with Angelus so he figured Spike would want the other vampire to be there. So in a way he was helping everyone, Buffy and Spike included.

Maybe if he told himself that enough, he’d believe it.

Angel had been his usual self when Xander had knocked on his door, barely waiting for Xander to catch his breath before dragging him back into the night. If Angel was so worried, why didn’t he just run on ahead? He knew the vampire could run faster.

Or maybe Angel didn’t know that Xander knew and wanted to keep him from knowing.

They made it back to the school while Xander was still trying to figure out his latest mental puzzle. He guessed worrying about Angel’s motives kept him from worrying about Buffy and Spike.

Near the entrance to the school there was a man lying dead. He was older, not one of the students and Xander figured it was one of the parents. His parents hadn’t even bothered with coming, and he wasn’t sure if he was glad or not. He didn’t want to see his Dad dead, really, but maimed might be nice.

He took a deep breath and tried to focus on other matters. Like how his boyfriend and one of his best friends were about to do a High Noon in the school, only it was just past nine.

While part of his brain babbled to itself about calling Spike his boyfriend, Xander turned to Angel. “You know a lot about Spike, so, umm…have you got a plan?”

Angel didn’t say anything, just grabbed Xander by the throat and started to drag him to the building.

*****

Spike contented himself with poking holes in the drop-down ceiling. He knew that if he made enough noise either the Slayer or Angelus would finally come. In the meantime, he had his hands full. The Anointed One’s minions were so stupid it wasn’t even funny. He’d had to kill one or two already for trying to snack on the kiddies in the closet.

It wasn’t that Spike disliked playing with his food but the two humans hiding in there carried Xander’s scent, therefore they were out of bounds. As was Xander. He'd stolen one of the boy’s shirts before he left and all of the minions knew Spike had plans for the lad. Okay, so they didn’t know those plans weren’t torture and feeding but they knew enough not to touch the human.

He could feel his Sire getting closer. Disturbingly enough, Spike could also scent Xander. He stopped his destruction of the panels in the ceiling and looked around. Angelus came into view, a protesting Xander under his arm. He could tell the boy wasn’t trying a ruse, he was actively fighting the larger man and swearing a blue streak.

Spike bit back a growl and fought off the urge to take the metal pole he’d been using and ram it straight up Angel’s ass. The poof was putting the boy in danger and didn’t even seem to care. He twisted his face into the semblance of a smile.

“Angelus!”

“Spike.”

“I’ll be damned!” He tossed the pole away. Spike knew he had to play this just right; if Angel got even half an idea that Spike was interested in the boy he’d be dust. He swallowed his hatred for a moment and gave Angel the type of hug William would have given him.

It would have been so easy just to tear out his neck then and there, but Xander might have gotten hurt. Spike couldn’t let that happen.

When Angel pulled back he had what Spike knew to be a fake look of amused affection on his face. “I taught you to always guard your perimeter. You should have someone out there.”

Spike let out a real growl this time. He did have people out there, the fucking idiots must have gotten distracted and wandered off. Worse than Dru in one of her fits, they were. He tried to completely ignore the squirming bundle under Angel’s arms but it was difficult. Xander in a snit just smelled so good. “I did. I’m surrounded by idiots. What’s new with you?”

“Everything.”

“Yeah.” Spike couldn’t help but laugh at that. They were so different from the demons they had been a hundred years ago. “Come up against this Slayer yet?”

“She’s cute. Not too bright, though. Gave the puppy dog ‘I’m all tortured’ act. Keeps her off my back as I feed.”

“People still fall for that Anne Rice routine? What a world!” They both laughed, but Spike was mainly finding Xander amusing. The boy’s swearing had gotten even more oddly creative. Hearing him call Angel an “undead liar guy” was too funny.

Evidently, Angelus didn’t think so. He squeezed the mortal’s neck and then shook Xander just a little before exposing his neck to Spike. “Want a bite before we go and kill her?”

Spike found himself wanting to tear Xander from Angel’s arms before beating the older vampire to death. He wasn’t sure if Angel was serious or not, but if he was just trying to lure Spike into a trap he was playing with things he shouldn’t. Any other vampire would have taken Angelus up on his offer. Spike knew he’d either end up staked or beaten.

“Haven’t seen you in the killing fields for an age.”

“I’m not much for company.”

Bullshit. Angelus always loved to be in the middle of a crowded room; the bastard loved attention. That was an outright lie, but Spike knew he couldn’t let on that he knew that. “No, you never were. So, why are you scared of this Slayer?”

“Scared?”

“Scared, mate. Time was, you would’ve taken her out in a heartbeat. Now look at you. I bet this tortured thing is an act, right? You’re not…housebroken?”

“I saw her kill the Master. You think you can take her alone, be my guest. I’ll just feed and run.”

Spike held up his hands. He couldn’t believe the git was actually going to go for Xander’s throat. “Don’t be silly! We’re all friends here. We’ll do it together. Let’s drink to it.”

He made a move as if to bite but at the very last second he pulled away. His clenched fist hit Angel right in the face and the other vampire staggered back. The grip he had on Xander was loosened and Spike pulled the human out of the way.

It was the best feeling he’d had all night.

“You think you can fool me?! You were my Sire, man! My Yoda!” And now Spike knew he really had been hanging around the boy too much.

“Things change.”

Spike wanted to say that he hadn’t changed but he knew that wasn’t true. “Man, I can’t believe this! You…Uncle Tom!” His minions had heard the fight and came running. “This isn’t a spectator sport, people! Get him!”

He looked at Xander and nodded towards the door. He was rewarded by a huge smile before the lad ran out. Of course that coward, Angel, followed him out. Spike didn’t care so much about him right now, though. All he cared about was that Xander was safe.

*****

It was near dawn by the time he made it back to what he had started thinking of as their house. His and Xander’s.

Xander was sitting up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around him. He was asleep, but Spike took off his Docs and made sure to drop them noisily on the floor.

“Umm…Spike?”

“Yeah, s’me. You all right, luv? The bastard didn’t hurt you too badly, did he?”

Xander shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt too bad. I guess this was his way of getting me back for the blue hair.”

Spike growled. “Offering you up to a vamp for a snack is a bit too much for just a prank, Xan. If I didn’t know you I might have killed you.”

“But you didn’t. And I’ve always know Angel has no sense of humor so I’m not too surprised.”

“Hush, pet, go back to sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“'Kay. Night Spike.”

He watched over the lad as he slipped back into slumber. When Xander’s breathing evened out, he opened the collar of his shirt. On his neck there were faint bruises where Angelus had manhandled him.

Yet another mark against Angelus, as far as Spike was concerned. It wasn’t proper to offer up your allies as snacks, even if they did annoy you.

When Spike finally got his hands on Angelus he’d make sure to lash his back an extra twenty-five times. Five lashes for every bruise on Xander’s skin.